EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Smith talks brother Liam versus Jaime Munguia

Stephen Smith believes people will forget how much of a ‘monster’ Jaime Munguia is once he steps in the ring with his brother Liam Smith.

21-year-old Munguia (29-0 25 knockouts) was the fortunate recipient of a title shot against the then WBO light middleweight champion Sadam Ali due to Smith having to pull out due to illness.

The power-punching Mexican took full advantage of his chance, halting Ali within four rounds in what turned out to be a gross mismatch of a contest.

“Of course yeah, Liam was gutted, Liam is a strong light-middle and it’s a fight that would of really have suited him against Ali, it’s one of those things but everything happens for a reason and now Liam’s got probably a tougher fight against Munguia,” Smith exclusively told World Boxing News.

‘Beefy’ remains the mandatory challenger for the title and is next in line for a shot at Munguia, and his older brother ‘Swifty’ had his say on the new match-up.

“Liam is still extremely confident, he believes styles make fights and this is the sort of fight he wants to be in. Liam would bite your hand off for a Mexican style fighter and hopefully Liam won’t have to go looking for him with a bit of luck and it will explode,” he said.

Smith might even be an underdog when it comes to trying to reclaim the strap he lost against Canelo Alvarez in 2016, but his brother has seen enough from him against a former opponent to suggest he will be able to handle Munguia.

“Liam showed a lot of variety in the two Liam Williams fights, everyone was talking Williams up like a monster who was knocking everyone out and Liam didn’t look remotely troubled once in those fights.

“People forgot about how much of a puncher Liam Williams was and all of a sudden it was how well Liam (Smith) negated him.

“Similar things are being said about this kid (Munguia) going into this fight; he bowled Ali over a few times and people are calling him a monster, but I think that will quickly be forgotten when Liam is applying the pressure and applies his style,” Smith concluded.

Thomas Davison is a staff writer for World Boxing News. Follow Thomas on Twitter @thomasdavison93